World Press Freedom Day celebrated

No freedom of press in Punjab-Channi

Congress legislature party(CLP) leader Charanjit Singh Channi has said that there was nothing like freedom of press in Punjab.

While addressing a function organised by Rupnagar Press Club on the occasion of World Press Freedom day Channi said that it was unfortunate that the fourth pillar of democracy Press was being throttled in Punjab.

He alleged that Badal government was running its own channels and had taken over the control of cable network in the state.

Channi said that the cable network telecast pro government programmes only and it was not allowed to telecast dissenting programmes.

He said those electronic channel, which airs something against the government,were taken off air immediately ,by the cable network..

He also alleged that state government tried to throttle those news papers,who did not follow its dictates ,by denying them government advertisements.

Channi said that pro people speeches made by him in Punjab assembly,were not allowed to be telecast on the channels and he was not even provided copy of the video of his speeches.

CLP said that the freedom of the press should be maintained by every government. This is the right of very journalist and the government should act as care taker for them.

He said that journalists were working on very meager salaries in the small publications. The government should give some subsidy to the small publishing houses so that at least they are able to pay the employee a reasonable salary.

Channi also assured the journos that if the congress party comes to power we will bring a legislation to safeguard the freedom of the expression of the journalists and stand by their interests also.

Rupnagar press club president Bahadurjeet Singh,Senior member Rajinder Saini,patron Gurcharan Singh Bindra ,senior vice president Satish Jagota,district Congress committee president Harbhag Singh Saini,former president Amarjit Singh Saini,Bahujan Samaj party leader Charanjit Singh Ghai,noted singer Bhupinder Babbal also spoke on the occasion.